Israel & Egypt
Christian Believers Pilgrimages
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Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the Arrival Hall, where your tour guide and driver will greet you. Transfer to your hotel in Tiberias to check in. Enjoy dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 1: Arrive in Tel Aviv
​In Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue. Enjoy beautiful Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry, and visit the synagogue located on the site where Jesus taught (Matthew 4:13, 23). Sail across the Sea of Galilee and experience an exceptional onboard worship service.
Day 2: Magdala | Capernaum | Boat Ride
Visit the Franciscan Wedding Chapel in Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, before continuing to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23). Look out over Tel Megiddo (Armageddon) to view one of the most important archaeological sites in Israel. Today’s last stop is Caesarea, a center of the early Christians, where an angel visited Cornelius, the first Gentile believer (Acts 10), and Paul was imprisoned for two years before appealing to Caesar.
Day 3: Cana | Nazareth | Tel Megiddo | Caesarea
At the River Jordan, you can remember your baptism at the Yardenit Baptismal Site. In Bethlehem, visit the cave revered as Jesus’ birthplace and see the Church of the Nativity constructed over the site (Matthew 1: 18 -25). Gaze out over Shepherd’s Field, where angels first proclaimed the Good News. Be inspired by the breathtaking beauty of Jerusalem (“the Golden City”) as you stand on the Mount of Olives, the place from which Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:9-12).
Day 4: Yardenit | Bethlehem
Explore the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall Excavations, including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. Wander the streets of the Jewish Quarter and explore the Cardo, the ancient marketplace still alive with shops. Stand on the steps of the Pool of Siloam, where the blind man was healed (John 9). Visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the home of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was held after his arrest (Matthew 26:57).
Day 5: Davidson Center | Jewish Quarter | Pool of Siloam | Mt. Zion
View the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle (John 5: 1-31). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and revere at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Transfer to the airport and fly to Cairo.
Day 6: Via Dolorosa | Fly to Cairo
Your sightseeing begins with a visit to Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt, which Emperor Theodosius destroyed. The Islamic conquerors used stones and blocks to build their mosques and palaces. Continue to the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, designed by the innovative architect Imhotep and the forerunner of the pyramids. The tomb of King Zoser is over 200 feet high and resembles a giant set of stairs. Continue to Giza and the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Cheophreh, and Mykerinos, guarded by the colossal Sphinx monument, which is symbolic of Egypt throughout the ages.
Day 7: Memphis and Giza
This morning, your guide will escort you on a tour of 7,000 years of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which includes the world-famous golden treasures from King Tutankhamun‘s tomb. Tour the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1183 AD, and visit the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, which is named for its location above a gatehouse of the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo). Later, enjoy a ride on the Nile aboard a traditional Egyptian Felucca.
Day 8: Cairo: Egyptian Museum | Old Cairo | Nile Cruise
This morning after breakfast, you get transferred to the airport for your flight to the modern city of Luxor. Upon arrival, we visit the Temple of Karnak (temple of the New Kingdom period) and the East Bank of the Nile. It was during this period that the bondage and Exodus occurred. Karnak, second to Giza's Pyramids, is one of Egypt's most important Pharaonic sites. Embarkation on board our Nile cruise. Lunch, followed by a visit to the famous Temple of Luxor, founded in Amenhotep III's reign, grandson of the pharaoh of the Exodus. Re-board our ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Fly from Cairo to Luxor - Embark Nile Cruise
This morning we visit the Valley of the Kings (where many ancient pharaohs were buried) and the famous Temple of Hatshepsut, the princess who perhaps pulled baby Moses out of the Nile River. Moses may have designed this temple. Back to our cruise. Lunch and start navigation towards Edfu, passing through Esna lock. Dinner and overnight on our ship.
Day 10: Valley of the Kings
After your breakfast aboard the cruise, you will be transferred to visit the famous Edfu temple, then back to the cruise ship to continue sailing to Kom Ombo to visit the crocodile-headed God of fertility and creator of the world and then return to your cruise vessel to sail to Aswan with dinner In Aswan and an enjoyable overnight stay aboard the cruise.
Day 11: Edfu, Kom Ombo
Breakfast, then depart to visit the High Dam, built from 1960 - 1971, which is a significant factor in Egypt's agricultural success. We then also spend time at Philae Temple on the Isi-Island. This complex was moved from upriver due to the impending destruction upon the completion of the High Dam. For those who wish to participate, a visit is available this afternoon to Abu Simbel, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments." Our Egyptologist guide discusses the relevance of this spectacular site from Egyptian history. We will also try to put into perspective the long history of Egypt. Here we visit the massive temple of Pharaoh Rameses II, perhaps the greatest builder of temples in ancient Egypt (13th Century BC), and a second one of Queen Nafertari, Rameses's most beloved wife. Free time is available in Aswan, followed by a Felucca ride around the Agh Khan Mausoleum for those who do not participate in the trip to Abu Simbel. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 12: Aswan
​Early morning departure to the Airport for our return home - the end of a most enjoyable journey.
Day 13: Aswan | Cairo | Departure
Royal Vacations Tours